still planning a trip to uk and paris sept 05
Jul 7th, 2005, 08:54 AM
#21
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Well, we are spending only one night near London but I wouldn't be worried anyway, really. It seems security would be much tighter after this horrific event.
Lets see-we'll be in Wales from Sept 9th through the 12th! Cant wait. If you want any advice on places to visit let me know.
Lets see-we'll be in Wales from Sept 9th through the 12th! Cant wait. If you want any advice on places to visit let me know.
Jul 7th, 2005, 11:00 AM
#22
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Ani,
I would love any advice on places to see. My hubby has been to Bets-Y-Coed a long time ago.
I love castles, pubs, good food and beautiful scenery. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Karen
I would love any advice on places to see. My hubby has been to Bets-Y-Coed a long time ago.
I love castles, pubs, good food and beautiful scenery. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Karen
Jul 8th, 2005, 02:51 AM
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hi, dont know if its two late but was browsing and came across this post, i would certainly recommend Wales, but stick to north wales http://www.visitwales.co.uk
snowdonia mountain/hill and some lovely walks, dont forget to eat welsh lamb shank. plus longest name for a town...Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllan tysiliogogogoch, Anglesey, Wales...all in all a lovely place to go, am off to paris at the end of july for three days....posted: Streatley on Thames, UK by lordofthejungle
snowdonia mountain/hill and some lovely walks, dont forget to eat welsh lamb shank. plus longest name for a town...Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllan tysiliogogogoch, Anglesey, Wales...all in all a lovely place to go, am off to paris at the end of july for three days....posted: Streatley on Thames, UK by lordofthejungle
Jul 8th, 2005, 02:57 AM
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hey karen, lord again, Betsyecoed, yup thats the place I was at last year, its still beautiful and lamb shanks out there are great...u will have fun...go to wales and to cotsworld..three villages i am told worth visiting are Bourton-on-the-Water...Moreton-in-Marsh..Chipping Campden.....cheerio
Jul 8th, 2005, 03:06 AM
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hi, scatterbrain lord again, by the way, if u already havent booked, www.eurostar.com is excellent place to book ur eurostar and hotel, the together package is lot cheaper than booking train and hotel seperately....hope u can swim, the train is underwater for 20 minutes, but one hardly notices that...would be much more fun, if it was glass and we could see the sea bed....well
Jul 8th, 2005, 11:12 AM
#26
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For a hotel close to Trafalgar Square you could do worse than the Royal Horseguards, which overlooks the river (on one side, obviously). www.thistlehotels.co.uk
In north Wales, and although I have not yet been there, it is high on my list of places to go, consider Portmeirion. www.portmeirion-village.com or www.virtualportmeirion.com
It is a private village designed, built and landscaped by an architect in a variety of styles, mostly Italianate, and is utterly charming. If you want 'quaint and atmosphere' you could not do better than this! The hotel and restaurant have good reviews, and there is also B&B accommodation in the village and locally. Plenty of castles in N. Wales too.
There is no shortage of 'quaint and atmosphere' in the Cotswolds, although you may be hard put to find anything charming in Birmingham city. The Plough & Harrow on the Hagley Road is the best I can think of. There are good places outside the city, but it seems you may be staying with relatives in B'ham.
Anyway, I hope you have a great time!
In north Wales, and although I have not yet been there, it is high on my list of places to go, consider Portmeirion. www.portmeirion-village.com or www.virtualportmeirion.com
It is a private village designed, built and landscaped by an architect in a variety of styles, mostly Italianate, and is utterly charming. If you want 'quaint and atmosphere' you could not do better than this! The hotel and restaurant have good reviews, and there is also B&B accommodation in the village and locally. Plenty of castles in N. Wales too.
There is no shortage of 'quaint and atmosphere' in the Cotswolds, although you may be hard put to find anything charming in Birmingham city. The Plough & Harrow on the Hagley Road is the best I can think of. There are good places outside the city, but it seems you may be staying with relatives in B'ham.
Anyway, I hope you have a great time!
Jul 9th, 2005, 03:30 PM
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m_kingdom, I think a number of us see your point completely. It's just that we don't happen to agree with it. Is that too hard to understand?
We well realize that for you everything is about being the best, grandest, and most wonderful. I personally feel sorry for you that you could never find comfort in a very simple, unassuming place with average to decent food surrounded by pleasant people. That's often what you find in Wales and the Cotswolds. Some of us don't always care about things being the most grand and spectacular. Sometimes a simple home cooked meal while staying in a slightly off the beaten track homey (or homely) unstarred hotel can be more satisfying than a Michelin three star chef catering to our every whim.
Some of us could even be happy buying a copy of a designer shirt in a second rate store -- something that would make you get out your smelling salts over. But all of us don't have such "particular" tastes. I still laugh at the time you scoffed at the mention of a very expensive and exclusive shop in Covent Garden saying you'd never go there as it isn't even the designer's FLAGSHIP store -- so beneath you to even consider stepping over their threshold. Believe it of not, some of us wouldn't care. Or my personal favorite, when someone asked about take away fish and chips (mentioning them wrapped in newspaper) you suggested J. Sheekey -- one of the more expensive seafood restaurants around. And some of us have even dared to join the scum of the earth as you seem to describe them by (GASP) riding the underground (HORRORS).
You explain yourself very well, so of course we understand your point.
It's called "different strokes for different folks".
We well realize that for you everything is about being the best, grandest, and most wonderful. I personally feel sorry for you that you could never find comfort in a very simple, unassuming place with average to decent food surrounded by pleasant people. That's often what you find in Wales and the Cotswolds. Some of us don't always care about things being the most grand and spectacular. Sometimes a simple home cooked meal while staying in a slightly off the beaten track homey (or homely) unstarred hotel can be more satisfying than a Michelin three star chef catering to our every whim.
Some of us could even be happy buying a copy of a designer shirt in a second rate store -- something that would make you get out your smelling salts over. But all of us don't have such "particular" tastes. I still laugh at the time you scoffed at the mention of a very expensive and exclusive shop in Covent Garden saying you'd never go there as it isn't even the designer's FLAGSHIP store -- so beneath you to even consider stepping over their threshold. Believe it of not, some of us wouldn't care. Or my personal favorite, when someone asked about take away fish and chips (mentioning them wrapped in newspaper) you suggested J. Sheekey -- one of the more expensive seafood restaurants around. And some of us have even dared to join the scum of the earth as you seem to describe them by (GASP) riding the underground (HORRORS).
You explain yourself very well, so of course we understand your point.
It's called "different strokes for different folks".
Jul 9th, 2005, 04:07 PM
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From the perspective of one living in the UK, and even in other parts of Europe I can comprehend wanting to see the rest of the UK as it's not so terribly far out of the way. However, a transatlantic tourist would be far better off visiting France or Spain or Italy, etcetera (as mentioned before) as they'll find that everywhere has pretty good food, and spectacular scenery. England's just so lack lustre these days. Granted, a couple of decades ago England had much more identity, but high streets nowadays are pretty much generic whether they're in Barnet or Bootle.
I used to regularly take weekends in the Cotswolds in the mid-eighties, there were charming local restaurants, and shops. Now they're gone, and replaced by places with awful food for tourists. In Spain I see so much more local pride, and identity.
I still think you're better served by just a day trip. The antique shops are all pricey now, the scenery will still be evident on a day trip, and the main sights well be seen!
As for Wales, that's got even less in the way of charm than the Cotswolds, and Welsh people are notoriously unfriendly. I haven't been to Wales since the mid-nineties, and that was only to meet up with an old acquaintance who for god knows what reason moved there (they've now moved back to London incidentally). I'm curious as to what you want to see in Wales besides the fields of sheep, and mountains?
"Sometimes a simple home cooked meal while staying in a slightly off the beaten track homey (or homely) unstarred hotel can be more satisfying than a Michelin three star chef catering to our every whim."
I couldn't agree more wholeheartedly with you on that point. Sadly, that is something that is exceptionally hard to find in Britain today. Too many "plastic" pre-packed sauces for starters, and poor quality meat. Good food tends to be expensive food here. That's another reason why in say France or Italy you can go to the simplest little place and almost be guaranteed excellent food. Britain is the wrong country to go around trying to do that in. Even the Lygon Arms (if we're going to talk Cotswolds) isn't what it used to be. Things have changed in this country, and very much for the worse!
If you are insistent on that particular course of affairs, then I'd lump Birmingham in with the Cotswolds.
I used to regularly take weekends in the Cotswolds in the mid-eighties, there were charming local restaurants, and shops. Now they're gone, and replaced by places with awful food for tourists. In Spain I see so much more local pride, and identity.
I still think you're better served by just a day trip. The antique shops are all pricey now, the scenery will still be evident on a day trip, and the main sights well be seen!
As for Wales, that's got even less in the way of charm than the Cotswolds, and Welsh people are notoriously unfriendly. I haven't been to Wales since the mid-nineties, and that was only to meet up with an old acquaintance who for god knows what reason moved there (they've now moved back to London incidentally). I'm curious as to what you want to see in Wales besides the fields of sheep, and mountains?
"Sometimes a simple home cooked meal while staying in a slightly off the beaten track homey (or homely) unstarred hotel can be more satisfying than a Michelin three star chef catering to our every whim."
I couldn't agree more wholeheartedly with you on that point. Sadly, that is something that is exceptionally hard to find in Britain today. Too many "plastic" pre-packed sauces for starters, and poor quality meat. Good food tends to be expensive food here. That's another reason why in say France or Italy you can go to the simplest little place and almost be guaranteed excellent food. Britain is the wrong country to go around trying to do that in. Even the Lygon Arms (if we're going to talk Cotswolds) isn't what it used to be. Things have changed in this country, and very much for the worse!
If you are insistent on that particular course of affairs, then I'd lump Birmingham in with the Cotswolds.
Jul 12th, 2005, 08:13 AM
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Karen,
sorry for the delayed reply-I've got a toddler cutting teeth and its not been much fun. Anyhoo, when we visited N. Wales last we went to Conwy castle , Beaumaris and Caernarfon-all in 1 day (of course this was just DH and myself-this trip we'll have our little one so we wont be quite as aggressive). It was an amazing day-do NOT miss Beaumaris. Its the most romantic of the castles, IMO. During our Sept. visit we intend to visit Harlech and possible Criccieth as well. I'll mention that we visited 2 of Llewellyn's ruined castles also-I'm very interested in that part of Wales's history so they were special to us...Dolbadarn was particularly haunting. Just my 2 cents. I know you'll love it!
sorry for the delayed reply-I've got a toddler cutting teeth and its not been much fun. Anyhoo, when we visited N. Wales last we went to Conwy castle , Beaumaris and Caernarfon-all in 1 day (of course this was just DH and myself-this trip we'll have our little one so we wont be quite as aggressive). It was an amazing day-do NOT miss Beaumaris. Its the most romantic of the castles, IMO. During our Sept. visit we intend to visit Harlech and possible Criccieth as well. I'll mention that we visited 2 of Llewellyn's ruined castles also-I'm very interested in that part of Wales's history so they were special to us...Dolbadarn was particularly haunting. Just my 2 cents. I know you'll love it!
